PICTURESQUE 
MONTANA 



DAVIES POEMS 

BY 

LAURA VICTORIA DAVIES 



1917 Edition 



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Copyright 1911 



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BY 

Laura Victoria Davies 



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COPYRIGHT, 1917 

BY 

LAURA VICTORIA DAVIES 



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JUST TO SEE YOU 

THIS CHRISTMAS TIME. 

1916 

Down in my heart 
I love you so, 
You never yet 
Have known me. 
Down in my heart, 
I'd never part. 
If I could linger 
Near thee. 

Down in my heart, 
I'd love to be 
Where I could 
See you smiling; 
Where I could hear 
Your words of cheer, 
Your own ills 
Ne'er regarding 

Down in my heart. 
Were I to choose. 
Should fate my 

Wishes crown me; 
I 'd never part 
With some I know. 
For truest worth 

I love thee. 



PICTURESQUE MONTANA. 

Part I. 

Gorgeous old mountains 
Attired in blues, 
In tints or shades 
Of all delicate hues; 
Physical giants with 
Treasures galore, 
Her thrifty inhabitants 
Love and adore. 

Frolicking streamlets 
Go carolling by — , 
Birds singing vdldly, 
Flowers blooming nigh, 
Larks sing tlieir chorus, 
While in tune to their lay 
Dance o're the meadows 
Tlie robin and jay. 

Tasseled with boulders 
And rock fringes gay; 
Glistening of crystals 
Adorn the highway. 
Amethyst, sparr and 
Sapphires twinkle. 
Ijambs gambol round 
Just to hear their bells tinkle. 

Gorges and trails, 
Where the coyote wails. 
Drowsily,— yawning in 
Beauty surround you; 
And tiie delicate vines 
'Neath the lofty pines, 
Wave and nod, softly 
Whispering about you. 



Light clouds, fantastically 

Skip o'er your snows, 

While cherubim visions 

Are caught as they go. 

Heaven touches earth, and 

Our thoughts rise with thee, 

Thinking of days 

That are ours to be. 
« 

Reverently lifting 
Your heads so high ; 
Sweet summer breezes 
All sing — passing by; 
Weird, ancient Buttes, 
Tiger, Black and Old Baldy, 
Enraptured our praise 
Of your lofty society. 

Gracing with beauty 
Montana's horizon, 
Serenely enticing her 
Landscape and wealth; 
Bequeathing a soul filled, 
E'en infinite measure. 
To searchers in quest, of 
Earth's beauty or treasure. 

Testify still — from 
The dawn of creation, 
Dignified, — Silently, 
Ever — Adore — 
Firmly stand witness, 
In praise to the author. 
Secrets — Unfolding 
Eternal in thee. 

Snowflakes in purity. 
Kissing your crest; 
Mist clouds so tenderly 
Cling to your breast; 
Summer resort of the 
Owl, bee and blossom; 
Progs and the trout, 
Croaking homage to tliee. 



Sunset and dawn, 
Blithe to look upon, 
To her peaks winkling — 
Secrets betraying; while 
Down their sides leaping, 
Go zephyrs, in glee, for 
A dance with the ferns, 
O'er the meadows. 

High o'er canopies sought, 
By the maiden and swain, 
AVell garnished and swept, 
By the winds and the rain.^ 
There fawns, in quaint antics, 
And brilliant array; 
Weird Aurora Borealis — 
O'er Athena's highw^ays. 

Sun, stars and moon, in 
Their golden rays glowing; 
Rainbow^ of hope and 
The Halo, your crown ; 
Harmony blending 
From azAire to azure; 
Laughing springs treble 
Refreshing delight. 

Towering aloof 
In Majestic array, 
With balmy sweet fragrance 
Blithe Spring's gift of May. 
Profound admiration 
On thee all bestowing 
To all ages, picturesque. 
Gloomy and grand. 



PICTURESQUE MONTANA. 

Part II. 

Flow on old Missouri, 

111 the height of your pride, 

111 joy, betimes leaping 

Your mountain side, 

While Black Eagle, Rainbow 

And Big Falls together 

Their sprays dash hilarious 

In merriment, with each other. 

In party gowns gay, 
On your banks, all the way. 
Responding in pantomimea 
Trees, bend and sway, and 
The Indian and cayuse 
As true as of old, — 
Home wend over trails, 
In a sunset of gold. 

All feathered and beaded 
With ornaments 'round, 
As loud in their praise 
As in bright colors wound, 
Ere graced by these pioneers 
Your eddies be found 
While sweet peace and 
Plenty forever abound. 

And your jewels adorn 
Smiling young maidens gay 
Found by pedestrians 
Perchance by the way, 
Like hues of thy sunset 
Enchanted, who stay, 
Nor aught could ere challenge 
Nor drive them away. 



PICTURESQUE MONTANA. 

Part III. 

Bold GLACIER PARK grandeur 
All words but deride: 
Where mystical nooks 
Near-by lake beauties hide. 

MacDonald and Flathead 
Romancing together, 
In serenade sheen 
To her ideal weather. 

There lie peaceful valleys 
Inviting to rest, the 
Glacier all sparkling 
Adorned in her best. 

Impenetrable forests 
And Gun-sight pass 
And Avalanch Basin 
All unsurpassed. 

Where turbulent rivers 
Through deep chasms cliime 
White cities' attractions 
Grotesque and sublime. 

Loom on in thy grandeur 
Oh! mountain and river; 
Firm patriots to shelter, 
And WELCOME and REST. 

Well won unfeigned pride: 
O'er this world far and wide. 
Unexcelled : — thy rare 
Beauties of Nature. 



THE EMIGRANT 
Dedicated to Rev. Robert Forbes, D. D. 

From bleak bluehazed Alaska, 
To Cuba's fruit and palm, 
From New York harbor landing, 
And Golden Gate they come. 
By millions from all Nations, 
In every color blent, 
In need of God's Salvation, 
Here by His grace are sent. 

We can not dare neglect them. 
Nor pass them heedless by. 
When Christ, His life gave for them, 
Wliile ransomed You and I. 
Redeemed of our own Nation, 
Proclaim the gospel call — 
Resound ye hills and valleys, 
His love and peace to all. 

Blow happy gentle breezes, 

Wave floral tributes fair. 

The praise of thy Creator 

Upon our balmy air — , 

O'er mountains plains and river. 

From sea to sea waft on. 

Sing sweet wild birds and nature, 

God's gift of Christ to all. 

We'll join in heart to greet them, 
Where e'er these souls may come, 
And God's eternal homage 
Here ever more be sung. 
Until they join the chorus. 
Enraptured in His praise. 
Till through us all have found liim, 
And come Millenial days. 



•'THE BADGER." 

Dear little badger 
Emlem, sublime! 
Our, ''Old Wisconsin" 
Is yours and mine.. 

E'er may our hearts, 
Enjoy her sushine, 
Sweet flowers bloom 
And her bird songs divine. 

Beauteous abode o'er 
Lake, dells and road, 
Full thousands have sought 
Thy sweet heather. 

There "ever, we'll love 
Every rock, hill and glen, 
Her eaglets and 
Violets forever. 



The badger here mentioned was caught 
and brought to Great Falls, Mont., by 
Edw. Lapeyre. 



EXORTATION 

(At the ''Y. W. C. A.") 

Tjost yon should take a notion, 
To warlile forth a noto 
And find perhaps, yon'd i-nined 
Your swanlike, tuneful throat, 
You'd better wear high collars 
And do as you are told, 
For fear the Goblins get you, 
Before vou'r very old. 



CLOSING. 

May your lovelight 

E'er be glowing 
And your lives be 

Brighter growing 
As time goes by 

With changes nigh 
And age creeps on 

Without your knowing. 






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